Pinoys urged: Postpone non-essential trips to Israel

WITH a full-scale war against Lebanese militant group Hezbollah looming, the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv yesterday reiterated its call for Filipinos to indefinitely postpone their non-essential travel to Israel.

In a post on social media, the Embassy strongly discouraged unnecessary travels to Israel amid the threat of another war aside from the ongoing one between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

“The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv strongly reiterates its call for all non-essential travel from the Philippines to Israel be postponed indefinitely, or until such time that the security situation in the country has stabilized,” it said.

“The Embassy urges all Filipino citizens to prioritize their safety and security and to heed this advisory until further notice,” it also said.

It said non-essential travels include those going on pilgrimages and other tours to Israel.

The Embassy also discouraged travelling to Israel to render “volunteer work.”

“The public is advised to exercise caution and not to fall for any schemes by individuals, organizations, companies, or tour companies organizing tours or pilgrimages to Israel at this time; or encouraging volunteers to work in farms or hospitals,” it said.

“The Embassy will not be responsible for the safety of those who travel as ‘tourists’ or ‘volunteers’ at this time,” it added.

For those who will still take the risk of going to Israel, the Philippine embassy said that the Bureau of Immigration has been alerted about such schemes.

“Therefore, any person, who attempts to travel to Israel under these arrangements, run the risk of getting offloaded from their flights,” it said.

Over the weekend, 12 children and teenagers were killed by a rocket attack allegedly from Hezbollah on a football field in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Israel has vowed to strike back at Hezbollah despite the Hamas-allied group denying any responsibility for the attack.